Taylor Swift, Euros and tennis freebies worth thousands given to Government aides

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1. Government special advisers have received freebies worth tens of thousands of pounds including tickets to Taylor Swift, Wimbledon and football matches since the general election, *The i Paper* can reveal.

   Accepting trips and gifts is entirely within the rules, but the revelations will lead to fresh scrutiny for the Government which has already faced questions over its fondness for freebies.

   Keir Starmer’s Director of Communication, Matthew Doyle, alone has enjoyed several corporate giveaways including a ticket to Taylor Swift’s Wembley concert in August paid for by the editor of The Sun, Victoria Newton.

   Departmental data also shows the PM’s former chief of staff Sue Gray, enjoyed free tickets to two football matches to watch Tottenham Hotspur and England play Ireland in Dublin, as well as to the men’s Wimbledon finals in July funded by the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

   Campaigners argue that allowing organisations to fund trips and tickets for elected officials and their advisers leaves them targets for potential undue influence.

   Rose Whiffen, senior research officer at Transparency International said: “Hospitality and events are often used as informal lobbying opportunities by those seeking to influence policy who may see special advisers as a route into the heart of government.

   “When deciding whether to accept such gifts from outside interests, advisers should consider not just whether they are following the rules, but what the perception of accepting generous gifts is and what the donor may be seeking in return.”

   Several of the freebies accepted by Government advisers have been from the Football Association (FA) – which is currently lobbying against the introduction of a new football regulator.

   According to *The i Paper*’s analysis of Government records, in the first three months of Starmer’s premiership eight special advisers received free tickets to Taylor Swift concerts including Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ political director, Ben Nunn, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s special adviser, Damian McBride. Both received their freebies from the FA.

   There is no suggestion any of the advisers have broken any rules or been influenced in an inappropriate way.

   Starmer has already come under fire for taking tens of thousands of pounds worth of tickets to watch Arsenal FC, along with having clothes and glasses paid for by Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli.

2. I really did for just a second with the dumpster fire that is our world right now think it meant they gave Taylor Swift to government aids on reading that title. Turned out to be tickets Lmao!.

3. “There is no suggestion any of the advisers have broken any rules or been influenced in an inappropriate way.”. So what’s the story?

4. Need a Trump style clear out of all the leeches that infest Westminster & beyond.
   Prison spaces should be found too. 👍

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